Israel has a weird relationship with soccer. You walk through the streets of Tel Aviv or Haifa, and you'll see kids wearing Messi or Ronaldo jerseys, yet the local obsession with the national team—the Nivheret—is something else entirely. It’s a mix of eternal hope and a very specific, locally bred brand of cynicism. If you’ve ever sat in a bar during a qualifying match, you know the vibe. It's high-stakes drama, usually followed by a collective sigh.
The Israel men's national soccer team is currently in a strange, transformative spot. As of early 2026, the team has just wrapped up its qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup. To be blunt: they didn’t make it. But honestly, the way they went out says everything about where Israeli soccer is right now.
What Really Happened in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
People keep asking if Israel is getting better or just spinning its wheels. Under head coach Ran Ben Shimon, the team has shifted into a "wide-open" style of play. Basically, they decided that if they were going to lose, they were going to do it while scoring goals. In their qualifying Group I, they finished third behind Norway and Italy.
They ended with four wins and four losses. No draws. It was all or nothing.
The highlight—or heartbreak, depending on how you look at it—was that wild 5-4 loss to Italy. Scoring four goals against the Azzurri is unheard of for a team of Israel's stature. Dor Peretz actually leveled the game at 4-4 in the 81st minute. For sixty seconds, the entire country thought a miracle was happening. Then Sandro Tonali scored a minute later to make it 5-4.
That’s the Israel men's national soccer team in a nutshell: brilliance followed immediately by a defensive lapse. They conceded an average of 2.5 goals per game during the campaign. You can't qualify for a major tournament with a leaky roof like that, no matter how good your strikers are.
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The Nations League Reality Check
If the World Cup qualifiers were a rollercoaster, the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League was a steep climb. Israel found itself in League A, the "big kids' table," alongside France, Italy, and Belgium.
- They pulled off a stunning 1-0 win against Belgium.
- They managed a 0-0 draw against France in Paris.
- They still finished bottom of the group because, well, it’s France and Italy.
Ending up in League A was a massive achievement, but it exposed the gap in depth. When you're playing the top five teams in the world, you can't just rely on one or two stars.
The Players Everyone is Talking About
When you talk about the Israel men's national soccer team today, the conversation usually starts and ends with Oscar Gloukh. The kid is a magician. Currently playing his club football at Ajax (after a successful stint at Salzburg), he is the creative heartbeat of the team. He’s only 21, but he plays like he’s been in the Champions League for a decade.
Then there’s Manor Solomon. He’s had some tough luck with injuries, but when he’s on the wing for Fiorentina or the national team, he’s a nightmare for fullbacks.
The defense is where things get "kinda" complicated. Daniel Peretz, the goalkeeper who made headlines by moving to Bayern Munich and later Southampton, is the undisputed number one. He’s kept them in games they had no business being in. But the back four in front of him has been a revolving door of trial and error. Eli Dasa provides the veteran leadership at right back, but the search for a truly dominant center-back pairing continues.
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The All-Time Greats vs. The New Guard
It’s impossible to talk about the current squad without mentioning the shadow of Eran Zahavi. He’s the all-time leading scorer with 35 goals. For years, the strategy was basically "get the ball to Eran and pray." Now that he’s retired, the team is forced to be more democratic.
They are still chasing the ghost of the 1970 squad. That was the only time Israel ever made the World Cup. Mordechai Spiegler scored the only goal Israel has ever seen on that stage in a 1-1 draw with Sweden. Since then? Decades of "almost."
The Logistics of Playing "Home" Games
You can't discuss the Israel men's national soccer team without acknowledging the elephant in the room. Because of the security situation and the ongoing regional conflicts, Israel hasn't been able to play many true home games at the Sammy Ofer Stadium or Teddy Stadium lately.
Most of their "home" matches in 2025 were held in Hungary.
It’s a massive disadvantage. Imagine having to play your biggest qualifiers in a half-empty stadium in Budapest instead of in front of 30,000 screaming fans in Haifa. Ran Ben Shimon has been vocal about this, noting that the "vibe" around the team is still positive, but the lack of a true home-field advantage is a silent killer for their momentum.
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Why People Get Israel's Potential Wrong
Most pundits look at the FIFA rankings (where Israel usually hovers around 70th to 80th) and dismiss them. But that ignores the sheer amount of talent coming through the youth ranks. The U-20 team that took third in the World Cup a couple of years ago is now starting to graduate into the senior side.
The problem isn't talent. It’s the transition.
In Israel, soccer players are also citizens who deal with mandatory military service and a high-pressure environment that doesn't always prioritize long-term athletic development. Yet, the grit they show is undeniable. They are the team that will lose 5-0 to Norway one week and then shut out Belgium the next. It makes no sense, and that’s why fans love (and hate) them.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're following the Israel men's national soccer team heading into the 2028 Euro qualifiers, keep an eye on these specific shifts:
- Defensive Restructuring: Expect Ben Shimon to move away from the "wide-open" 4-3-3 to a more conservative 5-4-1 against top-tier nations. The experiment of out-scoring giants is likely over.
- The "Youth Tax": Players like Dor Turgeman and Anan Khalaili are going to get more starts. They might make mistakes, but they represent the highest ceiling the team has had in 50 years.
- Set Piece Vulnerability: Statistically, Israel concedes a disproportionate number of goals from corners and free kicks. Improving aerial duels is the only way they’ll survive the next Nations League cycle.
The road to the 2028 European Championship is the next big goal. With the tournament being held in the UK and Ireland, the path is brutal, but the core of this team—Gloukh, Solomon, and Peretz—will be in their absolute prime. For a nation that has been waiting since 1970 for another moment on the world stage, the clock is ticking, but the talent is finally there to meet the challenge.